HEP: Plantar Fasciitis
Patient Education
What’s going on?
Heel pain is often aggravated by prolonged weight-bearing like standing and walking.
Loss of motion in the ankle or foot can increase stresses on the tissues in the heel and foot.
Increased weight can also add stress to the tissue.
How long will it take?
If you make the necessary adjustments to your activities to decrease stress on the foot, and surrounding tissues, you will likely see significant improvements in six weeks to three months depending on the severity of the injury.
How will we treat your condition at IHSM?
At IHSM, a doctor of physical therapy will perform a detailed physical examination to determine what specific tissues and joints in your ankle and foot are the cause of your pain.
Based on the findings, we will design a specific treatment plan to help you recover.
Our plan will include an exercise program to help improve the flexibility and mobility of your ankle joint and surrounding muscles.
Modalities such as acupuncture, infrared heat, or iontophoresis may be used to control the pain in your ankle and foot.
Orthotics or taping may be necessary to support your foot and reduce stress on the tissues.
In addition, we will also work with you to explore ways to perform bothersome activities in a more comfortable manner.
What can you do to help yourself?
Minimize weight-bearing like standing or walking as much as possible to allow the tissues to heal.
Adherence to our comprehensive home program is essential to ensure an optimal recovery.
Night splints may be necessary in the case of persistent pain.
Refrain from performing activities that exacerbate the pain like walking, running and jumping.
Avoid non-supportive footwear or walking barefoot.
Attempt to reduce your weight, using minimal weight-bearing exercise like recumbent cycling.
Move your ankle and foot around and perform your plantar fascia specific stretch before getting out of bed.
Instructions:
You may start strengthening the muscles of your hip and stretching the muscles of your foot right away. After you have stretched the bottom muscles of your foot, you can start strengthening the muscles of your foot by completing towel pickup, heel raises, balancing and reaching exercises.
About IHSM
Integrative Health and Sports Medicine, LLC is a one-stop health and wellness center. Our mission is to restore our patients to a healthy, pain-free, and productive life. By combining orthopedic physical therapy techniques, sports medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine, we are able to treat conditions and achieve results in cases that have not responded well to modern Western medicine.
We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please email us at info@integrativesports.com to schedule a consultation and let us help you on your journey to optimal health.